Abstract
An extensive need for the refurbishment and renewal of existing building stock has been the focus of consideration for many decades, principally because of the high global energy consumption and pollution levels. This paper presents the results of the analysis of certain sets of timber frame prefabricated insulation elements for the major renovation of an apartment building. The hygrothermal measurements were taken, and a series of combinations with elements were analysed using building performance simulation software to compare the main hygrothermal properties. The critical initial moisture content for the surface section of the aerated autoclaved concrete (AAC) panel is w = 65 kg/m3 at a depth of 15 mm and w = 39 kg/m3 at a depth of 70 mm. The results showed that before the design and installation of insulation elements, thorough hygrothermal analysis of the original external envelope, with actual climatic conditions and moisture loads, must be realized.
Highlights
Majority of residential buildings, built after World War II (WWII) are in age and conditions where the technical improvement is needed [1,2,3,4,5]
The results show that the external part of the autoclaved concrete (AAC) panel has a markedly higher moisture content than the internal part
In preceding studies [34,35] it was confirmed that the proper solution for the deep and major renovation of existing external envelopes are solutions with mineral wool with a low water vapour resistance and with vapour barriers/membranes with varying water vapour resistance
Summary
Built after World War II (WWII) are in age and conditions where the technical improvement is needed [1,2,3,4,5]. The building envelope of a renovated building should be more highly insulated than some years ago [6,7,8]. External thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) have been used for decades for the renovation of masonry, concrete and other substrates [11]. ETICS primarily fulfil the functions of thermal insulation and protecting the building against the influences of weather but many authors [12,13,14] have pointed out that durability issues, including degradation of the surface and the ageing of the materials are the most common problems in ETICS to deal with. Installing timber (or other similar) framing manually to the external envelope, filled between with insulation layers and covered by wind and weather protective facade layers, is another common method for the refurbishment as well as for building extensions
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